This Smoked Green Bean Casserole will knock your socks off. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill classic green bean casserole, oh no! We’re adding a smoky twist to a holiday classic, turning it into a flavor-packed homemade green bean casserole that’s sure to impress.
The Best Green Bean Casserole
Imagine fresh, crunchy green beans, sautéed mushrooms, and homemade crunchy onions, all cooked to perfection in your trusty smoker. Now that’s something to get excited about!
Now, you might be thinking this recipe sounds complicated, but let me assure you, it’s not. With a little patience and some basic cooking skills, you’ll be dishing up this smoky marvel in no time. Whether you’re a seasoned griller or just starting your BBQ journey, this recipe is perfect for you. Step by step, I’ll guide you through each process, ensuring your Smoked Green Bean Casserole is a roaring success.
To make this recipe, you’ll need a few essential tools: a smoker (check out these Beginner Smokers), a cast iron skillet, a large pot, and an oven. You’ll also need your usual kitchen staples, like a good sharp knife and a stirring spoon. Don’t forget your favorite wood for the smoker. I suggest pecan, apple, hickory, or alder for this recipe.
My goal is to help you improve your BBQ skills, one delicious meal at a time. With years of experience behind the grill and a passion for all things BBQ, I’m here to make your BBQ journey easy, fun, and incredibly tasty.
So, roll up your sleeves, fire up that smoker, and let’s get cooking! This Smoked Green Bean Casserole is waiting for you.
What Makes a Casserole Dish Stand Out?
The magic of a casserole dish lies in its simple ingredients coming together to create a symphony of flavors that dances on your palate. Each component, whether it’s fresh beans, crispy onions, or savory mushrooms, plays its part in crafting a heartwarming dish. The key, my friends, lies in the quality and combination of these ingredients.
Fresh beans are an essential player in green bean recipes. They bring a certain crispness to the table, an undeniable crunch that canned green beans often lack. While canned green beans are convenient, fresh beans add a more pronounced flavor to your casserole dish. They make the difference between a good green bean casserole and a great one.
Crispy onions, now there’s a game changer. They add that golden crunch on top that complements the softer textures below. When they are homemade and fresh from the oven, they elevate the dish from classic comfort food to something truly extraordinary.
The hallmark of a standout casserole dish lies in its uniqueness and the twist we give to traditional recipes. That’s why I love green bean casserole. It’s a versatile canvas, letting us bring our personality to a traditional holiday side dish. Using fresh mushrooms instead of the standard cream of mushroom soup, for example, adds an earthy depth of flavor that you’ll find irresistible.
A standout casserole dish is also one that reminds us of the warmth of home, the joy of gatherings, and the satisfaction of a well-cooked meal. That’s what casserole dish cuisine is all about. It’s comfort, it’s love, and it’s a celebration of good food. So the next time you’re thinking of making a casserole, remember these little details. They’re what turn a good dish into an unforgettable one.
How To Make This Smoked Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Preheat the Appliances
Kick off this recipe by getting your oven and smoker ready. Preheat your oven to 400F and warm up your smoker to 275F. Choosing the right wood for your smoker is also crucial! We recommend going for pecan, apple, hickory, or alder. Trust us, the right wood will give your casserole that fantastic smoky flavor.
Boil Water
Next, you’ll need to get a pot of water boiling for the blanching step. Fill up a large pot with water and stir in a tablespoon of salt. Continue to the next steps while you wait.
Prepare the Crunchy Onions
Now let’s move on to the crispy fried onions. They add the ‘crunch’ to your casserole! Take your sliced onions and put them in a zip top bag. Pour in the beaten eggs and give everything a good shake. Next, mix up your flour, panko, and a teaspoon of salt in a small bowl and pour it into a shallow pan. Move your egg-coated onions to the flour mix and toss them until they’re fully coated.
Bake the Onions
It’s time to get baking. Grab a baking sheet and cover it with aluminum foil. Give it a generous spray of nonstick spray. Spread out your onions on the foil. Make sure they aren’t overlapping too much, this might cause them to get soggy or stuck together.
Pop them in your preheated oven and bake them for 20 minutes. Remember to give them a gentle stir every 5 minutes. Once they turn golden brown, you know they’re done. Set them aside to cool.
Blanch the Green Beans
While the onions are in the oven, let’s blanch the green beans. Gently place the trimmed green beans in the boiling water and let them sit for 5 minutes. When time’s up, drain the water and rinse them under cold water. This will stop the beans from overcooking and keep their bright green color.
Sauté the Mushrooms
Now, take your cast iron skillet and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Toss in your sliced mushrooms, a teaspoon of salt, and the black pepper. Cook this up, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms start to brown and soften. This should take around 4 to 5 minutes. Finally, stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
Assemble the Green Bean Casserole
Sprinkle the remaining flour into the pan and stir to break up any clumps. After about 2 minutes, add the chicken broth. Stir well to incorporate all the ingredients and then pour in the half-and-half. Bring this mixture to a boil and reduce the heat, letting it simmer until it’s thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and gently stir in the blanched green beans.
Smoke the Green Bean Casserole
Now, we’re almost there. Top the green bean mixture with your homemade fried onions and carefully place the skillet in your smoker. Close the lid and let it smoke for 30 minutes. This will infuse the casserole with that delicious smoky flavor.
Serve the Casserole
Finally, remove the casserole from the smoker. Serve it up while it’s still hot.
There you have it, folks – a homemade Smoked Green Bean Casserole to impress your guests. Enjoy!
Smoked Green Bean Casserole: Techniques and Tips
Making a Smoked Green Bean Casserole for the first time might seem a little daunting, but don’t you worry! I’ve got a few simple tips that’ll make your first attempt feel like a breeze. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Preheat Properly: It’s really important to preheat your oven and smoker to the right temperatures before you start. The oven should be at 400 degrees F for baking the onions and the smoker should be at 275 degrees F for smoking the casserole.
- Choose Your Wood Wisely: The wood chunks or wood pellets you use for your smoker can change the flavor of your dish. I recommend using pecan, apple, hickory, or alder for this recipe. Each wood will give your casserole a unique smoky flavor.
- Stir Gently: When baking the onions, remember to stir them gently every 5 minutes. This will help them to bake evenly and prevent them from burning.
- Timing is Key: Finally, timing is crucial when making this dish. Make sure you’re watching the clock, especially when blanching the green beans (5 minutes in boiling water) and smoking the casserole (30 minutes in the smoker). Too long or too short could affect the final outcome.
Best Beer To Serve With Smoked Green Bean Casserole
One of my favorite parts about cooking up a storm on the grill or smoker is deciding which brew to crack open with the meal. It’s like picking the perfect dance partner for a good ol’ country waltz! Your Smoked Green Bean Casserole deserves a beer that will make its flavors sing.
Here are my top 3 picks:
- Amber Ale: A medium-bodied amber ale with its caramel and malt flavors harmonizes with the earthy mushrooms and green beans in our casserole. Its sweetness contrasts beautifully with the salty, crunchy onion strings. Plus, its clean finish won’t overwhelm the palate, letting the smoky flavors of the casserole shine through.
- Brown Ale: A good brown ale is like your most reliable, friendly neighbor. It’s smooth, a bit nutty, and it’s there when you need it. The toasted, nutty notes of the brown ale pair incredibly well with the smoky, hearty elements of our casserole. It complements the dish without trying to steal the show.
- Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen): If you’re looking for a lighter option, a wheat beer or hefeweizen is your best bet. These beers are often served with a lemon or orange wedge, adding a bit of fruity tartness that can cut through the creamy richness of the casserole. It’s like a little bit of summer sunshine in your glass!
Smoked Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Smoker
- Large Pot
- Baking Sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Gallon-sized zip top bag
- Shallow pan
Ingredients
Crunchy Onions
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Green Bean Casserole
- 1 lb fresh green beans ends trimmed
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 12 oz cremini muchrooms stems trimmed, caps thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and your smoker to 275F. Pick a wood you like – pecan, apple, hickory, or alder would work great.
- Get a pot of water boiling with a tablespoon of salt.
- Pop your onions in the zip-top bag, pour in the beaten eggs, and give it a toss. Mix the flour, panko, and a teaspoon of salt in a bowl and pour it into a shallow pan. Take the egg-coated onions and coat them with the flour mix.
- Lay some aluminum foil on a baking sheet and spray it with nonstick spray. Spread the onions on the foil, don't overlap too much. Bake them in the oven, give them a stir every 5 minutes, for 20 minutes total. When they're golden brown, take them out to cool.
- To blanch the green beans, pop them into the boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain and dunk them in cold water.
- Now, let's sauté the mushrooms. Melt the butter in your skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the mushrooms, a teaspoon of salt, and the pepper. Stir until the mushrooms soften, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute.
- Sprinkle the flour into the pan and stir to get rid of clumps. Cook for 2 minutes, then pour in the chicken broth. Stir vigorously, then add the half-and-half and let it boil. Turn down the heat and let it cook until it's thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and mix in the green beans.
- Sprinkle the crunchy onions on top of the green bean mix and carefully transfer the skillet to your smoker. Close the lid and let it smoke for 30 minutes.
- Take out the green bean casserole and serve it hot. Enjoy!
Green Bean Casserole FAQs
Can you make Smoked Green Bean Casserole ahead of time?
Absolutely! If you’ve got a busy day of cooking, you can prepare the green bean mixture in a large mixing bowl in the fridge a day or two before. When you’re ready, pop the casserole in the smoker. To keep the the onions crispy, we recommend saving that step for the day-of.
Can you cook Smoked Green Bean Casserole in the oven?
Yes, you can. If you don’t have a smoker, this dish tastes just as delightful baked in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and follow the recipe instructions. Cook the casserole in the oven for about 15 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
What type of wood should you use in the smoker for Green Bean Casserole?
For this recipe, I recommend pecan, apple, hickory, or alder. Each wood gives a different flavor profile, so choose the one that suits your taste buds. Apple and alder are milder and sweeter, while pecan and hickory give a stronger, more robust flavor.
Can I use canned green beans for Smoked Green Bean Casserole?
While you can use canned green beans, I strongly recommend using fresh ones for a better texture and flavor. Fresh green beans give the casserole a nice crunch, which contrasts beautifully with the creamy sauce and crispy onions.
What’s a good side dish for Smoked Green Bean Casserole?
This casserole pairs well with many classic BBQ dishes. It’s particularly good with smoked turkey, BBQ chicken, or grilled steak. For a complete meal, you could also add a potato dish, like smoked potato salad or grilled sweet potatoes.